ABC/Matthew Putney(WASHINGTON) -- Gov. Rick Perry has hired former aide to Sen. John McCain and longtime Republican strategist Steve Schmidt to work with his legal team following Perry's indictment.

Perry, who has downplayed the charges against him, brought Schmidt on to work with his legal team on public relations. Schmidt is being brought in only to help handle the indictment, not as part of a potential 2016 presidential campaign.

Since having his mug shot and fingerprints taken last week, the Texas governor has toured battleground states and is believed to be considering whether another run for the presidency is in his future.

Perry was charged earlier this month with abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public official after he allegedly threatened to veto funding for the state's public integrity unit unless District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg resigned following a 2013 DWI conviction.